Northern Syria: Syrian opposition factions are heading from the Aleppo countryside to Niger

Sources from within Türkiye’s backed, Syrian National Army reported that groups affiliated with them sent the first batch of their fighters to the state of Niger in West Africa.

Sending Syrian fighters affiliated with the Syrian National Army, came according to Syrian opposition sources, after months of preparations, which included preparing and preparing nominal lists of fighters wishing to go to Niger without specifying the nature of the tasks assigned to them.

They were subjected to closed courses, most of which were theoretical, within the camps of some factions affiliated with the National Army.

According to Syrian opposition sources, the first batch actually left for Niger through Turkish territory, and this came after the military and civilian identities were handed over and deposited in the self-government offices of each faction.

The first batch included central centers (indicating that they were composed of leaders and administrators in some factions affiliated with the Syrian National Army, amid information that the rest of the previously registered members were preparing to leave in other batches in the next few days.

Regarding the details, the first batch consisted the majority of the “Sultan Murad” faction led by Fahim Issa, and the next batches will include most of the components of the Second Corps and the former “Thaerun Liberation Committee,” and other factions may join, according to the sources.

The sources noted that the first batch was launched from the Tal al Hawa area, in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and that the carrying of mobile phones was completely prohibited, and the exact numbers about the salaries allocated to each element are absent, especially since this part carries a lot of controversy, as the faction leaders are accused of deducting parts of the salary.

The salaries of their members in exchange for allowing them to sign out within these payments.

In light of the complete absence of clarification of the tasks assigned to the factions leaving West Africa, some information circulating locally indicates that the issue is related to protection and escort companies, but the absence of a complete picture of these tasks opens the way for all possibilities.

Syrian opposition sources said that the leaders of military groups components affiliated with the Syrian National Army instructed their members, through special groups, to begin registering for those who wish to go on military missions to the state of Niger, which is witnessing a military coup, in exchange for a monthly salary of $1,300.

Niger is witnessing many events, most notably after the military coup.

After tension over a period of two months with the military authorities emerging from the coup, which canceled a number of military cooperation agreements with France, French President Emmanuel Macron announced last September that his country’s forces would withdraw from Niamey by the end of the year.

The Niger army recently announced that French forces had completed their withdrawal from its territory after a 10-year military presence, the purpose of which was to combat jihadists, as Niamey was one of France’s last allies, before the military coup in late July that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.